The Retail Institute

The Institute

Leeds Beckett University's The Retail Institute combines the strengths of academic research with commercial consultancy. The Centre has been established to deliver knowledge, expertise and awareness of new technologies relevant to consumer goods, retailing and the food and drink sectors.

Professor Cathy Barnes has been leading the team, providing consultancy services to business for over 15 years in the following specialist areas:

Packaging Innovation

Barriers and Coatings

New and Novel Materials

New Innovation Processes

Biomimetic Innovation

Consumer Design Methods

Food and Drink

Microbiology

Nutrition and Dietics

Health and Wellness Communication

Alcohol Innovation

Sports and Medical Nutrition

Retail Consumer Experience

Tactile Experience Design

Sensory Design

Emotional Design

Shelf Ready and Point of Sale

Multi-Channel Retailing

New Retail Technologies

Plastic and Printed Electronics

Gamification and Augmented Reality

Consumer Tracking Technologies

The Networked Consumer

Supply Chain and Logistics

Not only do we support the innovation needs of companies; we undertake research that makes a real commercial difference to the retailing and consumer goods industry. We also have specific expertise and in depth knowledge of how you can access funding from the UK, EU and beyond.

Our Clients

We work closely with leading global brand owners, retailers and packaging companies and SME's throughout the UK.

We excel at developing new ideas to feed into the front end of the innovation process. For example:

If you need to develop or improve a new concept or consumer product; we can provide new ideas and advice.

If you have a project idea but don’t know where to start; we can point you in the right direction.

If there is someone else already working on a project that you could partner with; we can facilitate the introductions.

If you need insight into technological innovations to help to future-proof your business; we are experts in predicting new trends that can impact on future performance.

Examples of clients we have worked for previously include:

Nestle

Unilever

Procter & Gamble

Linpac Packaging

If you have a specific project you would like to discuss or, for general information about our consultancy services please contact the University Enterprise office on 0113 81 21904.